Yesterday, we saw an interesting article over at Apartment Marketing Blog. As the article was entitled “An Urban Property Website “Must Have," we were naturally curious and took a closer look. This “must have" was a website called Walk Score, which attempts to quantify the walkability and convenience of a given neighborhood.
We think this is a great resource, especially designed for those attempting to move into an apartment in a neighborhood with which they are unfamiliar. Many people move into the city expecting to be able to jettison the hassles of owning a car, and this resource allows you to get a better idea of what a walk around the block will yield. Most urban renters desire an apartment that is nestled alongside a convenient set of stores, shops and entertainment venues, rather than a no-man's land within city limits.
Included in the Google Maps mash-up are icons that detail how far you will have to walk from your apartment to grocery stores, hardware stores, pharmacies, movie theaters, schools, fitness centers, bars, restaurants and coffee shops. Simply enter in the address of the apartment for which you are searching and the Walk Score will be calculated and the map will show an array of icons that represent each location type.
We think this is a great feature, as we feel that renters do not just look at apartments, but also at the surrounding area or neighborhood. A good apartment search will be sure to examine both the apartment as well as the neighborhood, as each will play an important and influential role in you and your roommates' lives.
Have you used the Walk Score? Have you found that it provides an accurate reflection of the “walkability" of your neighborhood? Is this feature something that MyNewPlace should look into providing for renters searching for apartments?
